Saint Thomas Aquinas Argument On God

Whether or not God exists is a debate that has been ongoing since the dawn of civilization. Although we might never be able to find a satisfying answer to the question, there have been multiple philosophers throughout time that have taken a worthwhile shot at it. One such philosopher was a monk from the 13th century by the name Of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas offers an argument in support of an existent god by pointing to what he calls efficient causation. The basis for this argument is that in a world where every reaction is caused by an action, there must be an original “push” of action to set the entire Universe into motion. This push, Aquinas says, is God. There are multiple ways to refute his reasoning, as well as multiple more in support

All “things” have a cause. (Premise)

2. For something to be its own cause, it must be prior to itself

3. Therefore, because nothing can exist to cause itself before it exists; something cannot be its own cause.

4. Every cause then, must have a separate cause for itself; leaving an infinite series of efficient causes.

5. If there is an infinite series of causes, then there would be nothing to set the series in motion (an infinite set of connected gears cannot move until one of them initiates movement)

6. Therefore, because we certainly do see movement, there must be a first efficient cause

7. A first efficient cause is only achievable by God (Premise), therefore God exists.

Notice how this entire argument only has two premises, being that everything has a cause, and God is the only thing able to be the first efficient cause. This leaves the argument in a very strong position as the first premise seems true enough by tradition, and there is no alternative to God in the second premise. If we are under the belief then that the argument is inherently valid and that we can take the premises on their word, then the conclusion is sound and God must

Granted at the current moment we have discovered no other possibility, but that does not mean there isn’t. Long before the 21st century the idea of video, or Facebook, or online schooling would have been considered impossible and most likely blamed on a supernatural power. Over time though, humanity has learned more about technology and made the internet possible through human means. Likewise the idea of gravity used to be without explanation, and has since been explained through science. The point is that just because we don’t have an explanation other than God for existence at the moment; that does not mean that there isn’t one. Even if millions of years from now we haven’t explained anything further, all that would prove is that our material knowledge of the Universe is not